Lists That Matter!

Top Beaches On Maui

This list is brought to you by some young people of our acquintance who have grown up "on the beach" and bring a lifetime of experience to their choices. Enjoy!

Aloha Visitor! Here you will find a list of the Top 10 beaches in Maui County. This list consists of only a handful of wonderful beaches for you and your family to enjoy. Upon making your choice, please keep in mind that although the ocean is our playground, necessary precaution must be taken. Always monitor ocean conditions closely and obey all postings and warnings.

1. Big Beach, Makena (South Maui)
This beautiful white sand beach is popular for bodysurfing, bodyboarding, or just catching a tan. It is often crowded on weekends with many visitors and residents. Off to the right of the beach, divided by lava rock, you will find a small cove called Little Beach. While state park regulations prohibit nudity, Little Beach continues to be one of the most popular nude beaches. So if public nudity offends you, you may reconsider traveling over the dividing rock. At times the shorebreak here at both Big and Little Beach can be dangerous. There is no lifeguard on duty at either location, proceed with caution.

2. Keawakapu Beach (South Maui)
Here you will find lots of sand on shore as well as in the water which makes for great swimming. You are almost always guaranteed a nice sunny day here. Beach access is a little hard to find, as large homes front the beach area making it difficult to locate. There is no lifeguard on duty, proceed with caution.

3. Polo Beach (South Maui)
Fronted by the Kea Lani Resort, this lovely sand and rock beach has clear water making it excellent for swimming and snorkeling. There is no lifeguard on duty, proceed with caution.

4. Kama`ole Park I, II, III (South Maui)
Divided into three beach areas, these beaches are ideal for the family day out. Kama`ole I is the largest of the three, with fine white sand and great swimming conditions. Kama`ole II is a little smaller and the water here is nice for swimming too. Kama`ole III is a very popular spot for the locals. It has only a small sand area, but a large grassy area, perfect for picnics and relaxing.

5. Ka`anapali Beach (West Maui)
This beach is absolutely one of the best on Maui. With white sand and clear water, this beach makes for excellent swimming as well just lounging and catching a tan. To the right end of the beach you will find the famous Black Rock. There is a large assortment of fish and sea turtles here and the rock is almost completely encrusted in coral, which makes snorkeling around it legendary.

6. D.T. Fleming Beach Park (West Maui)
Most popular for bodysurfing and bodyboarding, this beach attracts many visitors and residents. This is an awesome location for tanning. Lying between two lava points, tradewinds can get pretty strong here. Lifeguards are on duty here, but due to strong shorebreak, proceed with caution.

7. Honolua Bay (West Maui)
This beach has limited sandy area with a rocky shoreline. Most activity here consists of snorkeling, scuba diving, and surfing. Surfing should be limited to experts only. Located in a marine life preserve, the fish are numerous and coral formations are spectacular. There is no lifeguard on duty, so please observe as water conditions vary dramatically in this area.

8. Baldwin Beach Park (North Shore)
The shorebreak surf at this beach attracts many bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Regarded as one of the best shorebreak bodyboarding sites, this beach is often crowded. This is a beautiful large sandy beach with lots of grassy and shady areas. Lifeguards are located down the right side of the beach towards Paia town.

9. Ho`okipa Beach Park (North Shore)
A site for two major world-class competitions, this beach is known as one of the best places in the world for windsurfing. However, surfing and windsurfing should be limited to experts only. Although extreme ocean conditions may keep you out of the water, the view here is absolutely stunning. Many visitors as well as residents make frequent stops here just to observe the view. There are no lifeguards on duty here, so proceed with caution.

10. Hulopo`e Beach (Lanai)
This beautiful white sand beach is one of the safest places to swim on the island of Lanai. The beach is located in a protected Marine Life Conservation Area so you will find numerous colorful fish as well as unique coral formations. There is a large grass shaded area for picnicking. Overlooking this perfect site is The Manele Bay Hotel. There are no lifeguards on duty, proceed with caution.